The investment in business school is costly, but graduates of the top schools are expected to see a lifetime return on investment.

Be it the education, prestige, tapping into an alumni network, or career advancement or pivot, whatever the motivation, business school is a valuable investment in your future. If properly leveraged, graduating from a top-tier institution could fast-track your intended career path. But if the decision is one made out of haste or ennui, it could be a very costly mistake with little return on investment.

Above the tedious application process, a minimum two-year time commitment for traditional programs, possible geographic relocation and life upheaval, the biggest fear among prospective students is the cost of business school. There’s undoubtedly sticker shock that comes with all graduate school programs, but many prospective B-school students wrestle with the existential question: Is an MBA worth it?

The Real Value of an MBA

People who possess the requirements of admission to the best business schools — sterling undergraduate grades and impressive backgrounds — subscribe to the belief that the real value of an MBA is that the doors that will open will outweigh the cost to finance the degree.

The Best Business Schools Lead to High Salaries for Graduates

The investment in yourself is a costly one, however, Bloomberg Businessweek released its Best B-Schools list last week, which includes schools that leave zero ambiguity to the question of whether a business degree is worth it. The list even features one school that gives you extra bang for your buck.

Surveying close to 27,000 current MBA students, alumni and recruiters, the responses were categorized according to four indexes: learning, networking, entrepreneurship and compensation. If you’re still torn and deciding if getting an MBA is worth it, here are the top five schools ranked according to compensation:

No. 1: Stanford Graduate School of Business, Stanford, Calif.

Tuition: $73,062

Living allowance (rent, food, personal expenses): $32,712 for a single student; $53,001 for a married student

Median starting salary: $129,100

No. 2: Harvard Business School, Boston

Tuition: $73,440

Room and board: $13,350 for a single student for the nine-month school year; $20,180 for a married student for the nine-month school year

Median starting salary: $125,333

No. 3: The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia

Tuition: $78,948

Room and board: $22,350

Median starting salary: $128,200

No. 4: The University of Chicago Booth School of Business, Chicago

Tuition: $72,000

Room and board: $22,185

Median starting salary: $120,125

No. 5: Stern School of Business, New York University, New York

Tuition: $71,676

Room and board: $26,024

Median starting salary: $112,000

The ranking’s 10th school is also the highest-rated state school. Here’s where you’ll get the most bang for your buck:

Haas School of Business; University of California, Berkeley; Berkeley, Calif.

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